Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ripton vs Reading vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hardwick | Ripton | Reading | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Reading and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.